Harvard’s Inconvenient Data About Diet and Cancer

Trevor Butterworth

Harvard’s massive pooling project is challenging conventional wisdom about diet and health – and a delay in publishing the most controversial finding has politicians demanding answers… more

Originally published October 12, 2007

NYT Explains Percentages on Breast Cancer Alcohol Scare

Trevor Butterworth

New study claimed a 30 percent increased risk, but what did this mean in terms of absolute risk? … more

Originally published October 10, 2007

A Painful Mess

Maia Szalavitz, Huffington Post

Over a 48-hours period, Richard Paey was medicated with a larger dose of drugs for his MS and back pain while he was in prison than he took when he was free. Yet he was imprisoned for the smaller amount. He’s just been given a full pardon by the State of Florida. To find out what is going on, read STATS Maia Szalavitz in Reason Magazine… more

Originally published August 15, 2007

Mercury News Urges Crack Down on Rubber Ducks

Trevor Butterworth

But where’s the science in paper’s call on Governor Schwarzenegger to sign bill banning phthalates in children’s toys? … more

Originally published October 1, 2007

Don’t Listen to Quacks, Lindsay — And That Includes Many People who Claim to be Experts on Addiction

Maia Szalavitz, Huffington Post

Right now, anyone can say anything about the effectiveness of their treatments for medical and psychiatric disorders so long as they aren’t using medications. Right now, any behavioral treatment — whether it be standing on your head or being whipped, chained or starved — can claim “80 percent success rates” and get enthusiastic media support as soon as it presents a few anecdotes of success… more

Originally published September 27, 2007

Acupuncture and Back Pain

Maia Szalavitz

Getting randomly pricked by needles won’t help if you’re in severe pain… more

Originally published September 28, 2007

Memo to Time Magazine: Infants Don’t Produce Sperm

Trevor Butterworth

Report on air freshener health scare stinks… more

Originally published September 25, 2007

New York Times Continues to Mislead on Avandia Risks

Trevor Butterworth

Undoubtedly New York Times reporter Gardiner Harris knows how to report; and, it is reasonable to presume that his editors – who provide the six layers of editing that every Times article must endure – recognize good reporting when they see it. The problem with Gardiner’s coverage of the various controversies surrounding the diabetes drug Avandia, however, is what he continues to leave out of the story… more

Originally published September 12, 2007

Condemned to Die in Pain

Maia Szalavitz, Huffington Post

Myths and misconceptions about accidental addiction and abuse mean many outside the West are condemned to die in agony… more

Originally published September 12, 2007

Bad Environmentalism Triumphs in California: Dems Gun for Rubber Ducks

Trevor Butterworth, Huffington Post

A bill to ban a threat that by any reasonable measure doesn’t exist… more

Originally published September 10, 2007